President tells youth: This is the worst period; but be positive
President Ranil Wickremesinghe said this week that this was the "worst period" the country was coming into but expressed cautious optimism that by mid-year the economic crisis could be stabilised.
He said the Government was looking at cushioning the blows of rising food and other prices on the poorer segment of the population with a new welfare benefit system and added that plans to implement 'Jana Sabhas' or People's Assemblies in all parts of the country would give the youth, and others a place to voice their grievances and make suggestions for the better administration of the country.
The President made these comments while speaking to a group of young people whom he invited for tea at the Presidential Secretariat on Thursday. He had an exchange of views with them on the current situation in the country and sought their ideas for the way forward.
The group comprised young people who were interviewed by the Sunday Times and their opinions published in the newspaper's Independence Day special supplement on February 5. Their comments were later quoted by the President in his Policy Statement delivered at the opening of the new session of Parliament on February 8.
Responding to a question by the group which asked him for his "honest opinion" on whether the country would be able to get out of its present predicament, President Wickremesinghe said his Government was looking at what the country would be in 2048, twenty five years from now when Sri Lanka will celebrate a century of freedom from foreign rule. He said by then, Sri Lanka would have to target at being a middle income, developed country and urged the youth "to be patient" and to take a "positive view" about the future.
It was for a frank discussion that President Ranil Wickremesinghe invited a group of young people whose views the Sunday Times had highlighted in its 75th Independence anniversary supplement to meet him at the Presidential Secretariat on Thursday.
The meeting at the Presidential Secretariat followed the President quoting some of their comments published in the Sunday Times on February 5, in his speech at the ceremonial opening of the Fourth Session of the Ninth Parliament on February 08.
At the discussion were Matheesha Udawatte – a Barre and Pilates instructor and music director, Abisheka Pitumpe – a lecturer and cyber security researcher, Shanaz Samseer – an entrepreneur, P.G. Senuri Apsara – an undergraduate and Clifford Fernando – a banker.
Touching on the much talked of issue of increased accountability, how could self-discipline be improved among those in positions of power, Clifford asked. The President asked whether they think a system change may be successful if more young people were appointed to positions of authority or in Parliament.
The group also brought up their concerns that a majority of ministers lack the educational qualifications required for the high positions they hold and were told rectifying this could take ten years.
“It's sad to see so many young boys leave our country to drive vehicles in other countries when they are all so educated,” said Senuri, raising the issue of students at the higher education institute in Katunayake, where she studies, not being able to complete their courses for lack of funds. Many are also struggling to find adequate employment, she pointed out.
Responding to the issue of youth leaving the country for better prospects due to the country’s current situation, the President said: “I understand that we are going through the worst period, so there will be people going out, but by mid-year we should be able to stabilise the situation. So, all of you are seeing the worst of this. You’ll have to ensure during your life span that you will not have to go through this again.”
The spread of corruption to a grassroots level was also discussed, with the President noting that one possible solution is to reduce bureaucracy at that level. Plans for a Jana Sabha system are underway through which former Speaker Karu Jayasuriya proposes to give voice to individuals at grassroots level, he told them. Through this system, people would volunteer and express their views.
In response to concerns over the raised taxes and the need for greater transparency and better welfare benefit management to identify families who require assistance the most, the President said a new welfare benefit system is set to be implemented and would take two - three years to become 100% effective.
The discussion began with Abisheka proposing that more attention be focused on improving the state of mental health education in the country, primarily by implementing content at a school level.
Matheesha who works closely with children, noted that most of the little ones she had met postCOVID, were dealing with stress. “I know four year olds who are depressed.” With conditions worsening with the economic crisis, she said mental health education should be incorporated into the school curriculum, while Abisheka suggested more appropriate methods and techniques of dealing with mental health issues in particular be included.
In response, the President explained that the primary challenge in addressing this issue is the lack of trained and qualified professionals and specialists. It may take a period of five to ten years for a proper system to be formulated and implemented, he said, agreeing that much needs to be done with regard to those with mental health issues and the differently abled.
Shanaz spoke of some of the challenges she faced as a young entrepreneur whose business was handmade items. “Two years ago I bought fabric for 200 rupees but now it has increased to 600 rupees we can’t charge that from the customer,” she said. Her sales were largely dependent on the tourist industry and her query was whether it would pick up in the near future. Pointing out that the number of tourists in the past year was better than anticipated, though still insufficient, the President said it was expected to increase further in the next year. Measures are being taken to show that “Sri Lanka is alive and there’s a place to come to," he said, with more cultural events planned by the Ministry of Tourism.
Asked what youth could do on their part to help the nation, the President stated, “basically take a very positive view, and then we have to look at the system changes that you will require.” He spoke of three generations down the line – “we are looking at what the country will be in 2048. 100 years since Independence and 25 years hence…..we want to become a developed country, middle-income, high-level country, upper bracket or into a high-income country and get all the problems sorted out.”
You can't do it in one year, he told them.